63 people arrested and drugs worth over £3.15 million seized across southern Wales region in the latest county lines intensification week

 Police forces across Britain took part in a County Lines Intensification Week.

County Lines is the name given to drug dealing where organised criminal groups (OCGs) move and supply drugs, usually from cities into smaller towns and rural areas.

Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit for southern Wales, worked with national law enforcement partners to coordinate the intensification activities. Officers from South Wales, Gwent, and Dyfed-Powys Police executed 17 warrants and arrested 63 people.

Additional highlights for the region included:

• 8 county lines dismantled;
• £260,000 cash seized;
• Crack Cocaine with an estimated street value of up to £2000 seized;
• Heroin with an estimated street value of up to £1000 seized;
• 18kg of amphetamine seized;
• Cocaine with an estimated street value of up to £16,000 seized;
• 4580 Cannabis plants seized with an estimated street value of up to £3.1 million;
• Seizure of a variety of weapons including knives, hammers, lighter fluid, and two shotguns;
• 63 vulnerable adults and children identified and safeguarded;
• Multiple cars and mobile phones seized;
• Over 400 community members engaged with via mass engagement event.

Police officers made use of a range of resources including automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), knife sweeps, search warrants, covert officers and police dogs. Members of the public also played a pivotal part by reporting their concerns around suspected county lines exploitation.

Detective Inspector Richard Weber, from Tarian, said: “The purpose of these intensification weeks is to heavily disrupt organised crime gangs, whose selfish intentions cause untold harm to those they exploit.”

“The positive results we have achieved are the result of a collaborative effort by dedicated police officers and staff. Their efforts have shown that we will continue to pursue county lines criminals, whilst working to protect our communities.”

“In addition to enforcement activity, police officers and staff engaged with partners from health, education, housing, hospitality, transport, the third sector and more to raise awareness of the signs of exploitation associated with county lines.”

“Much of what we work to tackle can be described as hidden harm, and we need the public and our partners to continue raising their concerns so we can act proportionately and appropriately to target the perpetrators and safeguard those in need.”

“For more information on the signs of county lines activity and exploitation, and to report any concerns you may have, go to Crimestoppers UK: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/keeping-safe/community-family/county-lines”